I guess you won’t be much surprised. I guess you’ve sort of seen the way the wind was blowing. Ed has wanted me to marry him for years, and as I hadn’t any good reason not to now, I’ll be Mrs. Alfred Munn when you read this. I would of told you all about it, but I knew how you felt about poor Ed, and it would only of meant more fuss.

Ed’s got a grand job down in South America, and he’s crazy to have me go down there with him. You know I never had much of a chance to travel, and it seems a big chance for me. So I’m jumping at it. We may be gone a year or two. I’ll send you an address when we get one.

I’ve had this up my sleeve quite a long while, marrying Ed, I mean. You can’t explain everything to a child. That was why I hoped you’d stay with your father. But when you didn’t, of course I had to keep my promise to Ed just the same. It wouldn’t of been fair if I didn’t, and he wouldn’t listen to anything else. He’s been waiting for me all the time you’ve been growing up, and I won’t say I haven’t been waiting, too. I’ve tried my best to make you see Ed the way I do, these last weeks, but you just won’t, so I’ve given up trying, and gone ahead and done what I think is right.

Ed and I will be back and close up the apartment, sometime before we sail. I guess we all three can fit in somehow. I expect you to be nice to him though, now he’s your sort of father.

When you’re out, leave the key under the mat, same as usual. Ed and I may be back anytime.

Love from

Your MOTHER

P.S. It was too bad you wouldn’t turn around this morning and wave good-bye.

4

STEPHEN AND HELEN, returning late from town the next evening to their summer home on Long Island (they had just moved down), were surprised upon entering the hall to hear a sound in the living-room—a chair suddenly shoved back, soft swift foot-steps. They stepped to the door of the room.

It was Laurel! She still wore her hat. Her suitcase still stood by the chair where she had been sitting.

“Why, Laurel! Why, my dear!” exclaimed Stephen, exclaimed Helen, both hastening toward her.

They met her in the middle of the room. They kissed her, both of them. She returned neither caress.

“What is it, Laurel?”

She was very white. Her eyes had a startled, frightened expression.